Associate Director Foundation Relations

UO HR Website • Eugene, OR

18d • $65,000 - $75,000

About The Position

Reporting to the Executive Director of Central Development Research Programs, the Associate Director of Foundation Relations is responsible for identifying, cultivating, solicitating and stewarding private foundations with the capacity to make grants of up to $100,000. This position will assist multiple schools and units across campus, will manage a portfolio of private foundations, and will respond to queries from members of the UO community (Advancement colleagues, faculty, administrators, etc.) regarding opportunities with private foundations that may exists outside the portfolio. The primary focus of the person in this role will be identifying foundation prospects whose missions align with research, scholarship and artistic output of the university’s arts, humanities and qualitative social science disciplines. This includes faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Design and Oregon Humanities Center, as well as programs in the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Museum of Natural and Cultural History and UO Libraries. The Associate Director of Foundation Relations will manage the stewardship/reporting for foundations in their portfolio. This position will coordinate with academic partners on awarded grants to write and submit reports in coordination with funder criteria and deadlines. The Associate Director will establish effective working relationships with school/unit fundraisers, deans, and faculty and administrative staff of the university to accomplish fundraising goals. The Associate Director will be responsible for meeting fundraising goals as they relate to the strategic needs of the University of Oregon. Performance as measured against these goals will be evaluated annually.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of skills and experience.
• Two years of professional experience in foundation and/or corporate relations at a university or other large institution OR three years’ experience in a closely related field.
• Experience writing grant proposals or similar materials for foundations and/or corporations.
• Ability to source and develop competitive proposals to philanthropic foundations in support of research, scholarship and artistic activities led by UO faculty.
• Working with foundation prospects: Ability to identify, cultivate, and solicit foundation prospects and build relationships with key constituents connected with the university.
• Ability to work with university faculty and professional staff to understand priorities and programmatic needs in order to identify potential foundation partners and sponsors.
• Strong writing and editing skills: Ability to draft and edit proposals, letters of intent, and other collateral materials designed to promote university programs to potential foundation partners.
• Portfolio Management: Ability to research and identify foundation prospects based on university priorities and giving opportunities. Ability to manage portfolio of 30-50 foundation prospects and regularly use CRM database and other tools to find and update prospect information.
• Professionalism: Ability to establish collaborative working relationships with Advancement colleagues and university faculty, staff, University of Oregon Foundation staff, and leadership and maintain professionalism when working with different university constituents.
• Institutional navigation and industry knowledge: Ability to make a persuasive verbal and written case for supporting key programs and projects, effectively matching the programmatic and mission goals of private foundations with specific university needs; ability to maintain core campus relationships and familiarity with industry best practices in foundation relations.
• Strategic planning: Ability to identify best potential foundation prospects for specific university projects and to develop effective engagement strategies for foundations. Ability to contribute to overall strategic planning for Central Development Research Programs, led by the Executive Director.
• Ability to interact, communicate, and work effectively with individuals, recognizing and respecting the many and varied identities of each person.
• Commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Ability to travel periodically.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in relevant discipline, including, but not limited to, humanities, arts and qualitative social sciences.
• Experience working at a research university or other higher education institution
• Experience working with foundation and/or other institutional prospects

Responsibilities

• Identifying, cultivating, solicitating and stewarding private foundations with the capacity to make grants of up to $100,000.
• Assist multiple schools and units across campus.
• Manage a portfolio of private foundations.
• Respond to queries from members of the UO community regarding opportunities with private foundations that may exists outside the portfolio.
• Identifying foundation prospects whose missions align with research, scholarship and artistic output of the university’s arts, humanities and qualitative social science disciplines.
• Manage the stewardship/reporting for foundations in their portfolio.
• Coordinate with academic partners on awarded grants to write and submit reports in coordination with funder criteria and deadlines.
• Establish effective working relationships with school/unit fundraisers, deans, and faculty and administrative staff of the university to accomplish fundraising goals.
• Meeting fundraising goals as they relate to the strategic needs of the University of Oregon.

Benefits

• The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.
• For more information about benefits, visit our website

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees